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Watford2 - 2Preston

Preston threw away a two-goal lead to leave manager Phil Brown still searching for his first win since taking over at the rock-bottom Championship club.

North End have not won since 11 December and Brown's wait for a victory now extends to seven games after his team failed to hold on to a 2-0 half-time lead at Vicarage Road.

His team certainly got off to a great start when Sean St Ledger headed them in front after 39 seconds and Leon Clarke scored his first goal since joining on loan from QPR as the visitors took control by half-time.

But Matt Whichelow pulled a goal back with a crisp curling strike and Adam Thompson equalised after North End failed to deal with an optimistic floated ball into their box.

Both goalscorers had been brought on at the break by Hornets boss Malky Mackay and it was a spirited comeback by the home team as they avoided a third straight league defeat.

Even so, the inexperienced Hornets have now gone five Championship fixtures without victory, a run of form that has seen them slip out of the play-off zone and into mid-table.

The evening started terribly for Watford as Preston's 272-minute wait for a goal ended after St Ledger was left unmarked in the Watford area and headed Barry Nicholson's cross beyond Scott Loach. It was the first time that Preston had taken the lead since Brown was appointed.

The match was played on a bumpy and greasy surface and a lengthy spell of poor play followed, during which both teams struggled to come to terms with the awful pitch.

North End midfielder Nicholson managed to illuminate the contest with a rare moment of quality after 22 minutes but his 20-yard strike was superbly saved by Loach.

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The Hornets finally opened up the North End defence shortly afterwards but Danny Graham was denied by keeper Iain Turner.

And the home team extended their lead when Keith Treacy, who ensured a first half to forget for right-back Lee Hodson, delivered a low cross that Clarke slotted home at the far post.

Clarke might have made it 3-0 by the break but Loach again came to his team's rescue, seconds before his team were booed off the pitch.

Eddie Johnson and Treacy both went close for North End after the restart but Watford were much improved and pulled a goal back when Whichelow superbly converted Stephen McGinn's lay-off with a 20-yard strike.

Preston substitute Darel Russell might have secured victory but his long-range strike cannoned off the crossbar and it was Watford who struck next, Thompson converting at the far post after the visiting team failed to clear Martin Taylor's long ball.

Turner had to be alert to tip over a curling free-kick from Don Cowie as Watford pushed for a winner but North End held on for a point to end a run of three straight defeats.

Live text and stats

Tuesday, 15 February 2011

Npower Championship

Home Team

Score

Away Team

Time

Watford

2-2

Preston

FT

(HT 0-2)

Whichelow 69

Thompson 79

St. Ledger 1

Clarke 37

Watford

01 Loach

02 Hodson

05 M Taylor

06 Mariappa yellow card

12 Doyley (Whichelow 46)

04 Eustace (Sordell 73)

07 Cowie

15 McGinn

32 Drinkwater (Thompson 46)

10 Graham

22 Weimann

Substitutes

13 Gilmartin,

29 Thompson,

14 Jenkins,

24 Whichelow,

31 Townsend,

09 Deeney,

20 Sordell

Preston

21 Turner

04 St. Ledger

12 Gray yellow card

19 Jones

29 Cort

10 Nicholson

11 Treacy yellow card (Russell 74)

15 Barton yellow card (Mayor 78)

24 Ashbee

23 Clarke

27 Johnson (Proctor 65)

Substitutes

01 Lonergan,

42 Wright,

14 Mayor,

17 Parry,

20 Russell,

08 Hayes,

38 Proctor

Ref: FriendAtt: 10,620

WATFORD

PRESTON

Possession

Watford58%

Preston42%

Attempts on target

Watford5

Preston4

Attempts off target

Watford4

Preston7

Corners

Watford7

Preston6

Fouls

Watford5

Preston9

Final Result

Full Time

90:00+4:06 The match has reached full-time.

90:00+3:53 The ball is delivered by Danny Mayor.

90:00+1:40 Stephen McGinn has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the target.

90:00+0:37 Darel Russell fouled by Adrian Mariappa, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Barry Nicholson from
right channel, Adam Thompson manages to make a clearance.

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